Tech in Style Issue 12

Windows®. Life without Walls™. ASUS recommends Windows 7.

Tech in

BRINGING INNOVATIONS TO LIFE

Gaming to sleigh ’em

ASUS ROG G Series laptops strike again with stunning 3D gaming laptops

Bright Christmas

Put a bit of colour into everyone’s stocking with great gift ideas from ASUS

The sound of pure style Excite all of your senses with the stunning NX90

Premium portable Take the new ASUS Lamborghini VX6 for a spin

issue 12 december 2010 www.techinstyle.tv

08 Hello and welcome to the Christmas edition of ASUS Tech in Style.

Finding inspiration for the festive season can be challenge, so in this issue we present our gift ideas for the technology lovers in your life.

We open this issue with our stunning new NX90 designer desktop replacement. Designed to look more like a premium Hi-Fi component than a portable computer, the NX90 uses premium materials and components, and has unbelievably good sound quality. If there’s a gamer in the house, they’ll be thrilled to find one of our ROG G Series 3D gaming laptops under the tree come Christmas morning, while two new Eee PC models make ideal first computers for children of all ages.

Since Christmas is a time to relax with movies and music, the multimedia prowess offered by our new N Series laptops means the family doesn’t need to be stuck to the sofa to enjoy the annual festivities. And, if you’re just looking for stocking fillers, we have everything from stylish new portable mice to trendy laptop sleeves and bags.

We hope you enjoy the issue!

04 All-round family entertainment

ASUS Republic of Gamers strikes again with laptops giving blistering performance in immersive 3D

08 The sound of pure style

Jonney Shih Chairman, ASUSTek Computer Inc.

About ASUS ASUS, the world’s top 3 consumer notebook vendor and the maker of the world’s best selling and most award winning motherboards, is a leading enterprise in the new digital era. ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home, office and person, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, displays, desktop PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia, wireless solutions, networking devices and mobile phones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 3,268 awards in 2009, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than ten thousand people and a world-class R&D team of 3,000 engineers, the company’s revenue for 2009 was US$7.5 billion.

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ASUS N Series laptops are designed to bring the very best in video, audio and gaming performance right into your home

06 Gaming to sleigh ’em

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Contents

ASUS and the audio experts at Bang & Olufsen have created the NX90 — a laptop that stands out from the crowd

Windows®. Life without Walls™. ASUS recommends Windows 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

12 Credits

10 Ultra-stylish ultraportables

These two sleek ultraportables couldn’t be more different, but both have been designed to pack as much style into as little space as possible.

12 Passport to success Whether you’re a frequent flier who needs to work on the go, or just want something easy for the kids to learn with, there’s an Eee PC for you

14 Dreaming of a bright Christmas

Put a bit of colour into everyone’s stocking with these gift ideas from ASUS

EDITORIAL Editor Helen Ling Creative Director Quawn Hsu Production Ebony Besagni MANAGEMENT Managing Editor James Kidder PRODUCTION Production Manager John Pudney Production Co-ordinator Giulia Di Cesare

Copyright: ASUSTek (UK) Limited, 2010. All editorial content in this magazine has been sponsored by ASUS. While every care was taken preparing this magazine, ASUStek Limited cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information nor any consequences arising from it.

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Buy from Comet : www.comet.co.uk Micro Anvika: www.microanvika.com Selfridges Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk Ebuyer: www.Ebuyer.com

Enjoy music for free with Universal Music

Sound rules with the ASUS N Series and when you buy an N53 or N73 laptop this Christmas, you’ll get a voucher for 100 free music downloads*, courtesy of Universal Music UK. There are over 60,000 tracks to choose from, spanning every decade from the 1960s right up until the present day. So, whether you like to click your heels to The Who, get down with Donna Summer, pogo along to The Police or just sit back with the Scissor Sisters, there’s something to suit.

Visit http:// techinstyle.tv/ sonicmaster/ for more information *The Voucher Store will be hosted by Universal music at www.umusic.co.uk/ getmusic. Downloads consist of 10 tracks each month for 10 months.

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ASUS N53J Intel® Core™ i3, i5 and i7 processors Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 15.6” LED-backlit widescreen display NVIDIA® Fermi 400 series graphics USB 3.0 & optional Bluetooth 3.0 Audio designed by Bang & Olufsen ICEpower® From £649

ASUS N73J Intel® Core™ i3, i5 and i7 processors Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 17.” LED-backlit widescreen display NVIDIA® Fermi 400 series graphics USB 3.0 & Bluetooth 3.0 Audio designed by Bang & Olufsen ICEpower® From £649

Windows®. Life without Walls™. ASUS recommends Windows 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

All-round family

entertaiment ASUS N Series laptops

ASUS N Series laptops are designed to bring the very best in video, audio and gaming performance right into your home

A

ny laptop can handle multimedia, but how many are designed for it from the start? Not many, but ASUS’ new N Series has been created to excel at entertainment.

The N Series packs a number of different technologies that enhance its video, audio and gaming ability. First, ASUS VideoMagic technology ensures the best possible picture quality for movies and video by automatically reducing noise and upscaling the image to suit the display resolution, while ASUS Splendid technology adjusts contrast and colour saturation to suit the material.

NVIDIA® CUDA technology offloads work from the CPU to the graphics processor, accelerating everything from HD video playback to audio transcoding. And NVIDIA® Optimus technology boosts battery life by optimising graphics performance to suit the task and power source.

Built-in ASUS SonicMaster technology takes laptop audio to a whole new level.

This combination of high-fidelity audio components and professional sound processing delivers a rich, detailed performance for all kinds of listening material.

The final ingredient in the N Series recipe for multimedia mastery is USB 3.0. This latest version of the data-transfer standard is not only significantly faster at transferring files than its predecessor, but it reduces the recharge times of portable devices like MP3 players, too.

So, if your current laptop’s multimedia prowess is letting you down, the uncompromising performance of the new ASUS N Series with powerful Intel® Core™ processors will open your eyes — and ears — to how it should be done.

striking sound

sleek Exterior

top Performance

Developed in conjunction with Bang &Olufsen ICEpower, ASUS SonicMaster technology combines large, highfidelity speakers with professionalgrade sound processing and premium audio components for a listening experience that’s second to none.

The ASUS N Series looks good on the outside too. Beneath the flowing curves of the brushed-aluminium lid lie LED-backlit screens backed by a ZeroBright-Dot policy, full-size keyboards and dedicated media playback controls on certain models.

The N Series incorporates exclusive ASUS Super Hybrid Engine technology for superior battery life.

SHE automatically makes constant adjustments to the N Series’ power consumption, boosting battery life and enhancing performance.

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Unique wedge shape tilts the keyboard at an ergonomically friendly angle for long gaming sessions

High-tech cooling system draws cool air from the front and blows warm air away from the rear of the laptop

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NVIDIA® GTX 460M graphics mean you’re guaranteed outstanding DirectX 11 gaming performance

NVIDIA® 3D Vision puts you in the middle of the action, and HDMI 1.4 lets you connect a 3D HDTV for a big-screen 3D gaming experience

Windows®. Life without Walls™. ASUS recommends Windows 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

Gaming to sleigh ’em ROG G53JW & G73JW laptops

ASUS Republic of Gamers strikes again with laptops giving blistering performance in immersive 3D

EAX Advanced HD 5.0 audio surrounds you with sound and THX TruStudio presets ensure crystal-clear audio for movies, music and games

ASUS ROG G53Jw

I

f you need a gift idea for the gamer in your life this Xmas, how about slipping a highperformance gaming laptop into their stocking? ASUS has two stunning models to choose from in its Republic of Gamers range — the 15.6" ROG G53Jw and 17.3" ROG G73Jw. With designs inspired by the sleek, angular lines of the F-117 stealth aircraft, both the G53Jw and G73Jw pack an arsenal of clever features beneath their matte black bodywork.

High-performance portables like these need sophisticated temperature-control systems to keep things running smoothly during intensive gaming sessions. Both models have innovative internal layouts that allow cool air to be drawn from below the keyboard and over the components, before being vented through two large exhausts at the rear. This unique approach keeps the palm rest cool too, which means you won’t start to sweat in the heat of the moment.

Top-flight specifications include Intel® Core™ processors and NVIDIA® GeForce graphics for silky smooth frame rates, while optional solid-state hybrid hard drives ensure rapid levelload times. The secret weapon for both the G53Jw and G73Jw, however, is their 3D displays.

Powered by NVIDIA® 3D Vision, these use active 3D technology to display a full-resolution three-dimensional image with a wide viewing angle for the ultimate gaming and movie experience — all in a portable package that you can take anywhere.

Intel® Core™ i7-740QM processor

ASUS ROG G73Jw Intel® Core™ i7-740QM processor

Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium

Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium

15.6” HD 3D display

17.3” Full HD display

Up to 8GB DDR3 RAM

Up to 8GB DDR3 RAM

NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 460M graphics 3D glasses, gaming rucksack & mouse £1,599

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 © 2010 Activision Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

Buy from Micro Anvika: www.microanvika.com Scan: www.scan.co.uk Ebuyer: www.Ebuyer.com

NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 460M graphics 2 x 750GB hard drives Stealth Fighter-inspired design £1,849

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ASUS NX90 laptop

The sound of

pure style ASUS and the audio experts at Bang & Olufsen have created a laptop that stands out from the crowd

L

aptops are a popular choice for people who don’t want a computer to dominate a room, but ASUS approached the design of the new NX90 from a new perspective.

Developed together with award-winning Bang & Olufsen designer David Lewis, this stunning home-entertainment laptop has a high-tech allure that will make it the focal point of any living space. It’s a profound style statement for people who like to stand out from the crowd.

The beauty of the NX90 is more than skin deep, though — after all, shouldn’t a premium laptop like this sound as good as it looks? Thanks to its collaboration with the audio experts on the Bang &Olufsen ICEpower team, that’s just what ASUS has created.

Externally, the largest speakers of any laptop flank the NX90’s screen, while internally, ASUS SonicMaster technology ensures that they’re driven by sound of superlative quality.

A perfect blend of style and sonority, the ASUS NX90 not only sets a new standard for laptop audio quality, but for home-entertainment laptop design across the board.

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Windows®. Life without Walls™. ASUS recommends Windows 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv ASUS NX90 Audio designed by Bang & Olufsen ICEpower® Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate £2,499

Buy from Harrods Micro Anvika: www.microanvika.com Selfridges Comet: www.comet.co.uk

ASUS SonicMaster

There’s more to highquality laptop audio than just an outstanding set of speakers, and ASUS SonicMaster technology defines a completely new standard for portable audio. From professional-grade codecs to sophisticated signal-processing technology and highpower amplifiers, every link in the audio chain is expertly tuned for true-to-life listening perfection. The result is the ASUS NX90 — a laptop that has to be heard to be believed.

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ASUS VX6 laptop

ASUS UL30 laptop

UltraStylishUl

These two sleek ultraportables couldn’t be more different, but to pack as much style into as little space as possible

t gif s t c r fe e m o n e e p ed d h T spe r fo

V X6

I

f you’d rather your ultraportable announced itself with a passionate roar than an understated whisper, then the ASUS Lamborghini VX6 will be right up your street.

With a design inspired by the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster, the VX6 comes clad in slick piano-black or pearlescent white and packs the latest Intel® Atom™ dual-core processor and NVIDIA® ION2™ graphics for outstanding energyefficient performance.

Luxury is the order of the day for the ASUS VX6, from the responsive chiclet keyboard to the high-gloss trackpad surrounded by a soft-touch palm rest. USB 3.0 ensures speedy file transfers from compatible devices, too, while ASUS SonicMaster technology delivers sound quality that’s every bit as soulful as the engine noise for which Lamborghini is famed.

ASUS VX6 laptop Intel® Atom™ D525 (1.8GHz) Dual Core processor Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium

Available from PC World: www.pcworld.co.uk Micro Anvika: www.microanvika.com

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Design inspired by the breathtaking Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster NVIDIA® ION™2 graphics 12.1” LED-backlit display (1366 x 768) £499

Windows®. Life without Walls™. ASUS recommends Windows 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

l traPortables both have been designed

UL30 M

t gif t c ecs e x f e per e-go e h Th n-t o for

obile professionals looking to make a sophisticated style statement need look no further than the ASUS UL30. Measuring a mere 25mm at its thickest point, this executive ultraportable is fashioned from high-tech materials including brushed aluminium to keep weight to an absolute minimum Even more impressive is that ASUS hasn’t sacrificed performance for the sake of portability and the Ul30 packs a powerful Dual Core Intel® mobile processor and up to 12 hours’ battery life.

Innovations abound in the ASUS UL30, from on-board Intel graphics that can handle 1080p videos, ASUS Super Hybrid Engine that tailors performance to suit both the task in hand and the power source, to a uniquely textured metallic lid that cuts a dash, but keeps fingerprints at bay.

ASUS UL30 laptop Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor SU7300 Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium Up to 4GB RAM & 320GB hard drive 13.3” HD TFT (1366x768, Color-Shine, LED) Up to 12hrs battery life

Available from Ebuyer: www.ebuyer.com

£599 or free* via O2 contract *for a limited time only

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Passport to Eee PC 1001PX Eee PC 1015PEM

If you’re a frequent flier who needs a to work on the go, or just want something easy for the kids to learn with, there’s an Eee PC for you

Eee PC 1001PX

A

lightweight and compact Eee PC netbook makes a great first computer to get your child on the technology ladder, and now ASUS has created a new model that’s ideal for first-time computer users. The Eee PC 1001PX has the same great features as other models in the Seashell range, like an Intel® Atom™ processor, 10.1" screen, web cam and a large, comfortable keyboard, but it also has some extras that make it perfectly suited to learning.

The on-screen Eee Docking launcher provides quick and easy access to applications and online content, and links to ASUS @Vibe where kids can find a whole host of online music, videos, games and e-learning material. ASUS Data Sync also makes it simple to share information with other computers over Wi-Fi, while Eee Tools takes care of updates for drivers and other system software.

And should inquiring young minds dabble a bit too deeply, one-touch system recovery makes it easy to restore the Eee PC 1001PX to a factory-fresh state, too.

ASUS Eee PC 1001PX netbook Intel® Atom™ N450 (1.66GHz) processor Genuine Windows® 7 Starter 1GB DDR3 RAM 10.1” LED-backlit display (1024 x 600) 160GB/250GB hard drive 262 x 178 x 36.5mm 1.1kg Up to 13hrs battery life From £219

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Available from Comet: www.comet.co.uk Staples: www.staples.co.uk Amazon: www.Amazon.co.uk

Windows®. Life without Walls™. ASUS recommends Windows 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

Eee PC 1015PEM

success

I

f you’re after a low-cost, go-anywhere portable that won’t let you down on performance, ASUS has the perfect solution. Not only is the new Eee PC 1015PEM one of the slimmest netbooks available, but its dual-core Intel® Atom™ processor packs enough punch for smooth streaming of Flash videos from YouTube and BBC iPlayer.

USB 3.0 offers blisteringly quick transfers for digital photos and MP3s when you’re back at base, while Bluetooth 3.0 connects to next-generation wireless peripherals when you’re on the move.

And with a battery life of up to 13 hours*, moving is something that you can do a lot of. 802.11n provides speedy Wi-Fi connectivity and easy access to the 500GB of free ASUS WebStorage that complements hard-disk capacities up to 320GB. Available in a wide range of colours in both matte and glossy finishes, there’s an Eee PC 1015PEM to suit every taste. And, if you need a little extra performance, there’s also the Eee PC 1015PN with NVIDIA® ION2 graphics!

ASUS Eee PC 1015PEM Intel® Atom™ N550 (1.5GHz) Dual Core processor Genuine Windows® 7 Starter 1GB DDR3 RAM 10.1” LED-backlit display (1024 x 600) USB3.0 & Bluetooth 3.0 250GB hard drive 262 x 178 x 36.5mm 1.25kg Up to 13hrs battery life From £349

Available from PC World: www.pcworld.co.uk Comet: www.comet.co.uk Staples: www.staples.co.uk Amazon: www.Amazon.co.uk Micro Anvika: www.microanvika.com

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See http://shop. asus.co.uk for details

ASUS X Series laptop Available in four bold colours with a choice of Intel® Core™ processors, the ASUS X Series marries high fashion with high performance for unbeatable value for money. User-friendly features abound, from bright LED-backlit screens mounted on a sunken hinge to give the perfect viewing angle, to multi-touch trackpads that filter accidental contact from your palms when typing. So, whether you’re working, watching a movie or catching up with friends online, the ASUS X Series will make it a fun experience.

Christmas Dreaming of a bright

Find your perfect Christmas gift at ASUS Shop http://shop.asus.co.uk

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Windows®. Life without Walls™. ASUS recommends Windows 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

GX900 Gaming Mouse

KR 2.5” Hard Drive

With a design inspired by the famous Italian supercars, the ASUS Lamborghini backpack is a stylish way to carry your laptop and other accessories. The exterior is water repellent and the padded interior can carry laptops with up to 17" screens.

Get your game on with the ASUS GX900 gaming mouse. Ergonomically designed for maximum comfort, this corded mouse has two sensitivity-level settings for pixel-perfect precision and adjustable weight to suit all play styles.

Karim Rashid created the most fashionable netbook money can buy, so how about a portable hard drive to go with it? It weighs just 200g and has an integral USB cable, plus shock resistance protects your data against drops.

ASUS Index Laptop Sleeve

WX-DL Mouse

Protect your netbook in style with the ASUS Index laptop sleeve. This textured leather sleeve has a waterrepellent finish and fits netbooks with up to 10” screens. The soft suede-style interior keeps your netbook safe from scratches, too.

Sculpted from aluminium and with an innovative rounded shape, the WX-DL combines a wireless laser mouse with a multimedia controller to give you complete fingertip control of your computer.

ASUS Seashell Optical Mouse KR Collection

CrossLink Cable

AN200 Portable Hard Drive

woven leather laptop bag

Connecting two computers is quick and easy via USB with the ASUS CrossLink cable. You can use it to transfer files, access another PC’s DVD drive and share an internet connection, plus 2GB of storage is built in.

The sleek and slender ASUS AN200 portable hard drive is a smart way to carry your data. Finished in a choice of black or pink brushed aluminium, the drive uses USB 2.0 for super-fast file transfers and comes in 320GB and 500GB capacities.

Why lug an ugly laptop bag around when you can tote the stylish ASUS woven bag? Designed for laptops with up to 12” screens, beneath its fashionable finish lies a detachable laptop sleeve and an accessory pocket.

ASUS Lamborghini Backpack

The perfect complement to an Eee PC Karim Rashid edition netbook, this ASUS Seashell Optical Mouse KR Collection packs a 1,000dpi optical sensor for smooth tracking on almost any surface.

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Windows®. Life without Walls™.

ASUS recommends Windows 7.

90

Style Statement Few homes are complete without a computer, so why do so few computers fit comfortably at home? This is the mystery that inspired ASUS to create the NX90 — a stunning self-contained computer that’s more high-end hi-fi component than mere luxury laptop.

The serene style of the NX90 is the result of a unique partnership between ASUS and renowned Bang & Olufsen designer David Lewis. Beneath its sleek polished aluminium exterior lies the latest Intel® Core™ i7 processor and exclusive ASUS SonicMaster technology, which means the NX90’s performance is just as astonishing as its design. With ASUS NX90 — you will have a laptop that elevates the listening experience to a whole new level.